Outside Safety

Go Outside and Play
The physical and mental health benefits of outdoor play are great for children. It provides opportunities for exercise, creative expression, stress reduction and access to a free and natural source of vitamin D -- sunlight. Before sending kids out to play, make sure they always wear shoes to protect feet from cuts, scrapes and splinters, and wear sunscreen to protect from sunburns and harmful ultra-violet rays.

Playground 101
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that every year emergency departments treat more than 200,000 children ages 14 and younger for playground-related injuries. Before your kids head to the playground, keep these precautions in mind:

• Choose parks and playgrounds that are appropriate for their age and offer shock-absorbing surfaces.
• Teach children that pushing and shoving on the playground can result in accidents and injuries.
• Remind kids to go down the slide one at a time and to wait until the slide is completely clear before taking their turn. Teach them to always sit facing forward with their legs straight in front of them and to never slide down headfirst.
• Remind children to swing sitting down. Encourage them to wait until the swing stops before getting off and to be careful when walking in front of moving swings.
• visit ShrinersHospitalsforChildren.org/SafeSummer to find tips for preventing injuries this season.